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Small Worlds and Cultural Polarization
Open accessAbstract
Building on Granovetter's theory of the “strength of weak ties,” research on “small-world” networks suggests that bridges between clusters in a social network (long-range ties) promote cultural diffusion, homogeneity, and integration. We show that this macro-level implication of network structure depends on hidden micro-level assumptions. Using a computational model similar to earlier studies, we find that ties between clusters facilitate cultural convergence under the micro-level assumptions of assimilation and attraction to similar others. However, these assumptions also have negative counterparts—differentiation and xenophobia. We found that when these negative possibilities are no longer assumed away, the effect of long-range ties reverses: Even very small amounts of contact between highly clustered communities sharply increased polarization at the population level. [An appendix to this article is featured as an online supplement at the publisher's website.]
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“Another class of models describe polarization by introducing repulsive interactions, in which users reject opinions that differ from their own [24-26], but this mechanism combined with homophily leads to a decrease of polarization [27, 28].”
From Modeling echo chambers and polarization dynamics in social networks (2020) · cites this paper as [25]
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Metadata
- Authors
- FLACHE, A., & MACY, M. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Groningen (NL)
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- FLACHE, ANDREAS
- Venue
- The Journal of Mathematical Sociology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-01-25
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 146-176
- ISSN
- 0022-250X (ISSN-L)
- 1545-5874
- OpenAlex
- W2005766286
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 7.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2017-05-31)
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Mathematical Sociology (publishedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (452-04-351)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Capital and Networks
- Keywords
- small-world networks, cultural polarization, cultural diffusion, social network structure, assimilation, xenophobia, differentiation, cultural convergence, Granovetter, computational model
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